Regularity of Horizons and The Area Theorem

We investigate the interior hyperbolic region of axisymmetric and stationary black holes surrounded by a matter distribution. First, we treat the corresponding initial value problem of the hyperbolic Einstein equations numerically in terms of a single-domain fully pseudo-spectral scheme. Thereafter, a rigorous mathematical approach is given, in which soliton methods are utilized to derive an explicit relation between the event horizon and an inner Cauchy horizon. This horizon...

Based on an investigation into the near-horizon geometrical description of black hole spacetimes (the so-called "($r$,$t$) sector"), we find that the surface area of the event horizon of a black hole is mirrored in the area of a newly-defined surface, which naturally emerges from studying the intrinsic curvature of the ($r$,$t$) sector at the horizon. We define this new, abstract surface for a range of different black holes and show that, in each case, the surface encodes eve...

The null Penrose inequality, i.e. the Penrose inequality in terms of the Bondi energy, is studied by introducing a funtional on surfaces and studying its properties along a null hypersurface $\Omega$ extending to past null infinity. We prove a general Penrose-type inequality which involves the limit at infinity of the Hawking energy along a specific class of geodesic foliations called Geodesic Asymptotic Bondi (GAB), which are shown to always exist. Whenever, this foliation a...

Some examples in support of the conjecture that the horizon area of a near equilibrium black hole is an adiabatic invariant are described. These clarify somewhat the conditions under which the conjecture would be true.

It is standard assertion in relativity that, subject to an energy condition and the cosmic censorship hypothesis, closed trapped surfaces are not visible from future null infinity. A proof given by Hawking & Ellis in ''The Large Scale Structure of Space-Time'' is flawed since it is formulated in terms of an inadequate definition of a weakly asymptotically simple and empty space-time. A new proof is given based on a more restrictive definition of a weakly asymptotically simple...

Classical black holes and event horizons are highly non-local objects, defined in relation to the causal past of future null infinity. Alternative, quasilocal characterizations of black holes are often used in mathematical, quantum, and numerical relativity. These include apparent, killing, trapping, isolated, dynamical, and slowly evolving horizons. All of these are closely associated with two-surfaces of zero outward null expansion. This paper reviews the traditional defini...

In realistic situations, black hole spacetimes do not admit a global timelike Killing vector field. However, it is possible to describe the horizon in a quasilocal setting by introducing the notion of a quasilocal boundary with certain properties which mimic the properties of a black hole horizon. Isolated horzons and Killing horizons are examples of such kind. In this paper, we construct a boundary of spacetime which is null and admits a conformal Killing vector field. Furth...

Hawking's area theorem is a fundamental result in black hole theory that is universally associated with the null energy condition. That this condition can be weakened is illustrated by the formulation of a strengthened version of the theorem based on an energy condition that allows for violations of the null energy condition. With the semi-classical context in mind, some brief remarks pertaining to the suitability of the area theorem and its energy condition are made.

I report on recent progress in the exciting field of Numerical Relativity, with special attention to black hole horizons.

This work discusses the apriori possible asymptotic behavior to the future, for (vacuum) space-times which are geodesically complete to the future and which admit a foliation by compact constant mean curvature Cauchy surfaces.